The Desert Island Questions.

These are a set of questions we ask to our consultants from time to time so that we can feature them in the news letter.  So far we have asked Alan Pulverness and Keith Kelly.  Click on the names for their answers

Keith Kelly's Answers

Q:  How did you get started and how long have you been involved in ELT?

In 1993 I started as a VSO teacher in a Mathematical school in Bulgaria armed with a UK PGCE and a desire to travel.

Q: Was there anyone in particular who inspired you in your early days in ELT?

Mitka Gudeva, and a couple of tutors from my MEd course.

Q: We all need a change from time to time.  Can you suggest a life-changing book/film/experience?

Jitterbug Perfume by Tom Robbins.

Q:  Have you worked in any other areas?

I worked as a French and German teacher in a Secondary schools in Bristol and in an egg processing factory.

Q:   It's Desert Island Discs time! Name 5 albums you would take with you.

Egyptology by World Party

Siberia by Echo and the Bunnymen

Unplugged by Pyatnica (if you can read Russian)

Get Happy by Elvis Costello

Revolution by Wickeda

Q:   And books?

Margrave of the Marshes by John Peel

Bloody Foreigners by Robert Winder

Q:   Websites?  Either one or two you find interesting/amusing/useful (preferably NOT useful, but if you must..) and/or a couple which lead to information about your publications, or anything you want the world to know about.

These 3 are related to Keith's world of CLIL.

Factworld

Factworld at Yahoo Groups - you need to register to become a member of this one

Scienceacross - this is the major site for science across the curriculum.

And if you haven't discovered it already, there is Google Earth.  You'll need to download it and install it, but it's worth it to see your house from above!

Q:   When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?

A vet

Q:   What has been your worst teaching moment (so far)?

Breaking my leg as a PGCE student and doing the whole of my teaching practice on crutches

Q:   Are there any other questions you would like to be asked, or that you would like to ask other NILE trainers (and were always afraid to ask!).  Would you like to ask them generally or are they directed at specific colleagues?

When are we going down the pub?

That presumably would be the Fat Cat in Norwich, one of Keith's (and our) favourites?

Thanks, Keith

Alan Pulverness' Answers

Q:  How did you get started and how long have you been involved in ELT?

After university, I got a teaching post at the Bell School in Norwich , in the days before the CELTA, when you could learn 'on the job'! I've been in ELT for 30 years!!

Q: Was there anyone in particular who inspired you in your early days in ELT?

My Diploma tutor (though it was still called the Certificate in those days) - Peter Maingay .

Q: We all need a change from time to time.  Can you suggest a life-changing book/film/experience?

Book: The Magus by John Fowles ; Film: Il Conformista dir. Bernardo Bertolucci

Q:  Have you worked in any other areas?

Banking

Q:   It's Desert Island Discs time! Name 5 albums you would take with you.

•  Bach St Matthew Passion

•  Miles Davis Ascenseur pour l'échafaud

•  Keith Jarrett The Köln Concert

•  Jacques Brel Brel en Public, Olympia 61

•  The Grateful Dead American Beauty

Q:   And books?

•  Anne Michaels Fugitive Pieces

•  Ronan Bennett The Catastrophist

•  John Updike Rabbit Angstrom: a tetralogy

•  Saul Bellow Henderson the Rain King

•  Sharon Olds Strike Sparks : selected poems 1980-2002

Q:   Websites?  Either one or two you find interesting/amusing/useful (preferably NOT useful, but if you must..) and/or a couple which lead to information about your publications, or anything you want the world to know about.

Amusing:

"Cook'd and Bomb'd" ( Chris Morris , comedy writer and satirist) http://chilled.cream.org/forums/portal.php

Interesting: pulp.net - "the online home of new fiction" http://www.pulp.net/

 

Publications:

http://www.deltapublishing.co.uk/  - for information about Changing Skies

http://www.cambridge.org/elt/  - for information about The TKT Course

 

Q:   When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?

An actor

Q:   What has been your worst teaching moment (so far)?

My first lesson (the very first one and the first one on Monday mornings ever since)

Q:   Are there any other questions you would like to be asked, or that you would like to ask other NILE trainers (and were always afraid to ask!).  Would you like to ask them generally or are they directed at specific colleagues?

Generally: What book(s) or writer(s) has/have influenced you as a teacher / trainer?

Thanks, Alan